3 free agent LB’s Steelers could sign to push Devin Bush
By Andrew Falce
Steelers could sign Whitehead
If the Steelers wanted to add more of a complete off-ball linebacker at this point, Tahir Whitehead would make a lot of sense. At one point, Whitehead was seen as one of the better young linebackers in the league with the Lions. He was a tackling machine and could make some big plays in coverage. Even after he signed with the Raiders, he was still his usual consistent self.
He is over 30 years old now, which means his best playing days are likely behind him, but Whitehead could still be a contributor for this defense. Frankly, if the Steelers wanted more of a push for Bush and less of a compliment, Whitehead would be the guy. Adding Whitehead gives the Steelers a solid tackler off the bat, but with his coverage ability, he could replace Bush if the struggles continue.
The two main drawbacks with Whitehead are that he doesn’t play much on special teams, and he is currently on the Cardinals’ practice squad. The lack of special teams’ snaps isn’t the end of the world as the team has plenty of options there already, but the fact that he is already on the Cardinals practice squad means the Steelers would have to add him straight to the roster. That said if he can play as he has in the past, adding him would be well worth it. If the team wanted to push Bush and potentially replace him, Whitehead would be the most complete option.
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While signing a free agent this late in the process is never a great sign, Bush has warranted some sort of a change given his struggles. The in-house options aren’t great, which means the team will have to look elsewhere for help. These three free agents have their flaws, but they could help push Bush for the remainder of the season.